Table 3.
Plasma arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels (in mol%) and n-6:n-3 ratio in VLBW infants according to selected neonatal morbidities (n = 480)
| AA (mol%) | DHA (mol%) | n-6:n-3 ratio | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small for gestational age | No | 338 | 9.46 (2.10) | 2.61 (0.87) | 5.53 (1.20) |
| Yes | 142 | 9.48 (2.30) | 2.60 (0.99) | 5.60 (1.38) | |
| Respiratory distress syndrome | No | 246 | 9.71 (2.19) | 2.74 (0.95) | 5.66 (1.21) |
| Yes | 234 | 9.22 (2.09)** | 2.47 (0.91)***,**** | 5.44 (1.28)* | |
| Sepsis | No | 262 | 9.60 (2.13) | 2.69 (0.94) | 5.52 (1.31) |
| Yes | 218 | 9.32 (2.18) | 2.51 (0.85)* | 5.59 (1.20) | |
| Intraventricular hemorrhage | No | 394 | 9.55 (2.11) | 2.62 (0.93) | 5.62 (1.27) |
| Yes | 86 | 9.01 (2.20)* | 2.56 (0.82) | 5.27 (1.22)*,**** |
Values are expressed as mean (SD); *, p < 0.05; **, p <0.01; ***, p < 0.001 (univariate analysis); ****, p < 0.05 (multivariate analysis, adjusting for gestational age, birthweight, twin pregnancy, preeclampsia and gestational diabetes)